Vintage Dr. Gonzo Bronze

Ralph Steadman and Hunter S. Thompson began their 40-year relationship while covering the 1970 Kentucky Derby for Scanlan’s Magazine. It was here that Gonzo journalism was born, combining Steadman’s illustrations and Thompson’s writing in a revolutionary new artform that solidified their respective places in literary and art history. The legendary duo went on to collaborate on other projects, most famously, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream, originally published as a two-part series in Rolling Stone magazine and later developed into the cult classic novel we know today.

The impetus for bronze Vintage Dr. Gonzo came from curator and gallery co-owner Brian Chambers, a diehard Steadman and Thompson fan. Chambers discovered the artist in high school and faithfully followed his work until he was able to connect with the illustrator two years ago. To ensure the success of the endeavor, Chambers chose San Francisco-based artist Jud Bergeron--also a lifelong Steadman admirer and classically trained sculptor--to assist with the bronze-making process. During the creation phase, Chambers and Bergeron were inspired by a continuous dialogue with Steadman, who advised them on how to fully capture and embrace the Gonzo spirit. In total, 10 renditions were developed before the perfect clay mold was crafted. In addition to the nine life-sized editions, of which only one has been cast, Steadman, Bergeron and Chambers also created 50 smaller bronzes.